I had heard that El Calafate was a special place but didn’t understand why until I saw it with my own eyes. As soon, as I landed at the airport I was greeted by an incredible indigo blue lake. It was even more beautiful than the lagoon in San Rafael.
The landscape on the ride to the hotel was just as amazing. However, the highlight of El Calafate is the glaciers. There are 13 in the province and I went to see the most famous one on the second day of my stay.
On Friday, we took two buses back to Rosario. We boarded the first bus at 4pm and arrived in Rosario at 3:30 the following morning. Alex was sweet enough to meet us at the bus station. We went back to his place and since it was my last night with them, he made a very special drink for us. Lemon Champ is lemon ice cream blended with champagne. It’s light, refreshing and totally delicious! I’m definitely going to make it next summer in Toronto – maybe even sooner!
Agnes and I loved our week in Mendoza and were even more excited about heading next to a beach town in Uruguay called Punta del Este. It’s known as the Miami of South America and is featured in many magazines as the hot spot for the rich and famous. We packed our bikinis and party dresses and took another 10-hour bus ride to the luxurious destination.
Sadly, we were disappointed with Punta del Este. Maybe it was because we just missed the peak season that ended in January.
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After two days of decadence, we headed further south to San Rafael. It’s a smaller town surrounded by The Andes, lakes, valleys and the beautiful Atuel River. We stayed at a ranch called La Finca Carmelita about 10 minutes outside of the town.
The finca was a refreshing change from a hotel. It was on a beautiful piece of land and had llamas, horses, dogs, geese and a fabulous swimming pool. I felt an immediate sense of calm there and loved every minute we spent at the ranch.
For all of you who know me, there’s no doubt that I am a live to eat, not an eat to live kind of a person. I love good food and wine and I was in heaven when I visited Napa Valley last summer. I was hoping to have a similar experience in Argentina’s wine country, called Mendoza, and I was not disappointed.
It was just Agnes and me on this part of the adventure. Alex had to go back to work so the plan was to travel during the week and then to meet him back in Rosario on the weekends. Continue reading
Alex’s hometown was a very pleasant surprise. Rosario is the third largest city in Argentina and is only recently getting attention as a tourist destination. We got there around 8 on Sunday evening and Alex took us on a quick drive around town. The beautiful Parana River runs across the city and there is green space everywhere.
The trail by the river was overflowing with people out for a stroll, run or bike ride. People in Argentina are very healthy.
After a great night in the newest part of the town, we spent the rest of the weekend in the oldest neighbourhood called San Telmo. This area was discovered in the 17th century so it has lots of history and beautiful architecture. We started off in Camito. It has been called a tourist trap, but I loved it. Brightly coloured buildings, live tango shows and lots of vibrant art added to the character of Caminito.
I spent the day in Puerto Madero – it is the largest urban renewal project in the old port of Buenos Aires. There is a mix of luxury hotels, residential high-rises and upscale restaurants. I had a lovely lunch overlooking the water and enjoyed my first glass of bubbly! I still can’t believe I’m here!
I then headed to Palermo Soho which is a 10-minute walk from hotel. I Ioved the area. For those of you in Toronto, it’s like Yorkville meets Little Italy with lots of cafes and cute boutiques.
The day flew by and I was counting down the minutes until my friends arrived. My friend, Agnes, met her boyfriend in Mexico last spring. Alex lives in Argentina. It’s because of him that we are both exploring this part of the world now. Agnes is on her second trip to Argentina and Alex has been to Toronto twice too. Not bad for not even a year of dating! They had the perfect holiday romance and have spent enough time together to know this is the real thing. The big question is where are they going to live?
I left Toronto on January 18. The weeks leading up to the trip were very busy with my dad’s funeral, Christmas and preparation for my big adventure. It’s not easy to pack for two months, especially as a woman!
Fortunately, the 13-hour trip went smoothly with a small stop over in Washington. I arrived in Buenos Aires at 10 am. Several friends had warned me about the city not being safe, especially for a woman traveling alone, so I booked a transfer through my hotel. I’m so glad I did. It was wonderful to see my name on a sign when I arrived and to be escorted directly to the hotel.
I didn’t sleep much on the flight. I was going to take a nap but it was a beautiful day and I couldn’t wait to explore. I visited the Recoleta area with many lovely Parisian-style buildings. It was easy to feel like I was walking through a city in Europe rather than Buenos Aires.
It would be an understatement to say the end of 2011 was not quite what I expected. I lost my job and my dad in December and my whole world literally fell apart.
However, I am a firm believer in positive thinking and staying strong no matter what life throws at you. Everything happens for a reason and I had to believe that my life would evolve and change for the better.
I am an avid world traveler. I quickly saw the opportunity to finally be able to go on a trip with no set itinerary or time frame. There are many beautiful places around the world but South America stood out for several reasons. I had wonderful friends to meet there and I have always loved the Latin culture and language.